Sculling apparatus



Oct. 29, 1963 4F. o. CAIN SCULLING APPARATUS Filed Feb 15, 1963 m c a Id r w F l N V EN TOR. 4052".

Attorneys BYamu and United States Patent Filed Feb. 15, 1963, set. N0.zsasez 12 Claims. ct. 115-28) This invention relates to a novel anduseful sculling apparatus and more specifically to a paddle-like memberconstructed in a manner whereby it is particularly well adapted topropel a boat by sculling with the paddle.

The sculling apparatus of the instant invention includes an elongatedshank member having a panel-like blade on one end projecting fromopposite sides of the shank member. The other end of the shank member isprovided with an elongated handle portion which generally parallels theshank member and is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of theshank member in a direction extending transversely of the medial planeof the blade. The mid-portion of the shank member is round incrosssection and is thereby adapted to be cradled in an oarlock or thelike and oscillated about its longitudinal axis during swinging movementof the sculling apparatus about the axis of rotation of the oar lock.

Because of the laterally offset elongated handle portion, each timeforce is applied to the offset handle portion in order to swing thesculling apparatus about an axis extending transversely of itsmid-portion, the blade of the sculling apparatus will automatically beinclined in the right direction so as to effect a rearward thrust on thewater as the blade is swung transversely across the rear end of a boat.Each time the force on the elongated handle portion is reversed, theshank member will be rotated somewhat less than 180 degrees therebyinclining the blade in the opposite direction for the next path acrossthe rear of the boat.

The main object of this invention is to provide a sculling apparatuswhich will enable experts as well as novices to readily propel a boat bysculling with one hand.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a sculling v apparatus constructed in amanner whereby the operator using the sculling opparatus is merelyrequired to oscillate the upper end of the elongated shank member, bythe elongated handle portion thereof, back and forth across the rearportion of the boat supporting the sculling apparatus.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the precedingobject is to provide a mount for the apparatus including means forrotatably supporting the shank member for oscillation about itslongitudinal axis and for pivotal movement about an upstanding axisextending transversely of the elongated shank member and from thetransom of a boat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide the means bywhich the sculling apparatus is mounted for oscillation about itslongitudinal axis and swinging movement about an axis extendingtransversely of its shank portion with clamp means whereby the entiresculling apparatus may be removably clamped to the transom of a boatwhich is to be propelled.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a sculling apparatus in accordance with the preceding objectswhich conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter ddd fitih Fatented Get. 29, 1963described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawingforming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sculling apparatus shown clampedto the stern portion of a boat which is shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through theassembly by which the elongated shank member of the sculling apparatusis rotatably supported for oscillation about its longitudinal axis andmounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending trans verselv ofits shank portion; and

FTGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takenthrough a portion of the blade carried by one end of the shank member.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral litgenerally designates a boat which includes a pair of sides 12 and 14interconnected at their rear ends by means of an upright transom 16. Thesculling apparatus of the instant invention is generally referred to bythe reference numeral i8 and includes an elongated shank member 29having a panel-like blade 22 on one end which projects from oppositesides of the shank member 2d. The end of the shank member remote fromthe blade 22 is provided with an elongated handle portion 24 which islaterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the shank member in adirection extending transversely of the medial plane of the blade 22.

A mounting assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 26 isprovided and includes a sleeve member 28 which rotatably and sl-idablyreceives the shank member 20 intermediate the blade 22 and the olfsethandle portion 24. The sleeve member 28 is pivotally secured to a shank36* which has one end secured to one leaf 32 of a hinge 34. The otherleaf -36 of the hinge 34 has a C-clamp assembly generally referred to bythe reference numeral 38 secured thereto. The shank 30 is fixedlysecured to the leaf 32 in any suitable means such as by welding 4t) andis externally threaded on the other end as at 42. The sleeve member 28includes a socket member 44 which defines a threaded bore '46 extendingtransversely of the longitudinal bore '48 formed through the sleevemember '28. The threaded end portion of the shank 3% is threadedlyengaged in the threaded bore 4% and in this manner the sleeve member 28is pivota-lly secured to the leaf 32.

A stop collar generally referred to by the reference numeral Sil isslidably mounted on the shank member 20 intermediate the sleeve member28 and the handle portion 224 and has a radial bore '52 formed therein.A threaded nut 54 is secured to the collar 50 in any suitable mannersuch as by welding 56 and in alignment with the bore 52. A setscrew 58is threadedly engaged with the nut 54 and is forced against the outersurfaces of the sleeve member 2% to fix the collar 50 in adjustedpositions along the shank member 20. The outer end of the setscrew 58 isprovided with a wheel portion 6d whereby the setscrew 58 may be readilyloosened and again retightened each time it is desired to adjustablyposition the collar 5t} longitudinally of the shank member 20.

An anchor eye 62 is secured to the sleeve member 28 in any convenientmanner such as by welding '64 and an expansion spring es is securedbetween the anchor eye 62, and the portion of the setscrew 58 disposedbetween the nut 56 and the hand wheel portion 60. Thus, it will be notedthat the shank member 20 is yieldingly urged to the position illustratedin FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings and against rotation in eitherdirection from the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of thedrawings.

'From a comparison of FIGURES l and 3 of the drawings it will be notedthat the panel-like blade 22 is proarea,

vided with a small stabilizing fin 70 which is disposed at substantiallyright angles to the median plane of the blade 2 and extendslongitudinally thereof. It will also be noted that the stabilizing fin70 projects outwardly from the blade 22 in the same direction in whichthe handle portion 24 is laterally offset from the shank member 20.

With attention again invited to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it may be seenthat the free end portion of the bandle portion 24 is provided with ahandgrip portion '72 which is rotatably mounted on the handle portion 24for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle portion 24.

In operation, after the sculling apparatus 18 has been secured to thetransom 16 by means of the C-clamp assembly 38, a person seated in therear of the boat may grasp the handgrip 72 and urge the handle portion24 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FlGURE 1 from above.This will cause, because of the laterally oilset handle portion 24, theshank member 2%) to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about itslongitudinal axis as viewed from the handle portion end of the shankmember 20. Accordingly, it will then be noted that the blade 24 willhave its leading edge portion inclined toward the transom 16 of the boat10. Upon completion of the movement of the handle portion 24 to the portside of the boat 10, the spring 66 will again return the shank member 20to the rotated position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Then,upon the application of force to the handgrip 72 to swing the handgrip72 toward the starboard side of the boat, the shank member 20 will berotated in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIGURE1 of the drawings and as seen from the handle portion end of the shankmember. This will, of course, incline the opposite edge of the blade 22which now comprises the leading edge thereof in a forward direction inorder that the movement of the blade 22 to the port side of the boat 10will eiiect a rearward thrust on the water in which the blade 22 isdisposed.

Repeated oscillation of the handle portion 24 will, of course, effectintermittent forward thrust on the blade 22 to propel the boat 10.

The hinge 34 enables the desired angle of the shank member 20 relativeto the horizontal to be achieved even though various transoms to whichthe C-clamp assembly 38 is secured may be inclined differently.

The stabilizing fin 74} also assists in oscillating the shank member 20about its longitudinal axis as the handle portion 24- is swung back andforth across the boat It The drag of the stabilizing fin '70 on thewater through which the blade 22 is being moved will increase the forcesapplied to rotate the shank member 20 in the correct direction. "Whilethe tension of the spring '65 is sufiicient to return the shank member20 to its rest position in substantially all cases, the stabilizing finwill also assist in this function when the handle portion 24 isoscillated rapidly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sculling apparatus including an elongated shank member having apanel-like blade on one end projecting from opposite sides of said shankmember, the other end of said shank member including an elongated handleportion generally paralleling said shank member and laterally ofisetfrom the longitudinal axis of said shank member in a direction extendingtransversely of the medial plane of the blade, said shank memberincluding means intermediate said handle portion and said blade adaptingsaid shank member to be pivotally supported from the transom d of a boatfor rotation about an upstanding axis extending transversely of saidshank member and for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of saidshank member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panellike blade includes asmall stabilizing fin disposed at substantially right angles to themedial plane of said blade, extending longitudinally thereof, andprojecting outwardly from said blade in the same direction in which saidhandle portion is laterally offset from said shank member.

3. A sculling apparatus including an elongated shank member having apanel-like blade on one end projecting from opposite sides of said shankmember, the other end of said shank member including an elongated handleportion generally paralleling said shank member and laterally offsetfrom the longitudinal axis of said shank member in a direction extendingtransversely of the medial plane of the blade, said shank memberincluding means, intermediate said handle portion and said bladeadapting said shank member to be pivotally supported from the transom ofa boat for rotation about an upstanding axis extending transversely ofsaid shank member and for oscillation about the longitudinal axis ofsaid shank member, said means comprising a sleeve member rotatablyjournaled on said shank member adapted to be pivotally secured to saidtransom for rotation about an axis extending transversel of said sleevemember.

4. The combination of claim 3 including means interconnected betweensaid sleeve member and said shank member yieldingly urging said shankmember toward one position of rotation relative to said sleeve andagainst rotation of said shank member in both directions relative tosaid sleeve member from said one position.

5. A sculling apparatus including an elongated shank member having apanel-like blade on one end projecting from opposite sides of said shankmember, the other end of said shank member including an elongated handleportion generally paralleling said shank member and laterally offsetfrom the longitudinal axis of said shank member in a direction extendingtransversely of the medial plane of the blade, said shank memberincluding means intermediate said handle portion and said blade adapting said shank member to be pivotally supported from the transom of a boatfor rotation about an upstanding axis extending transversely of saidshank member and for cscillation about the longitudinal axis of saidshank member, said means comprising a sleeve member rotatably andslidably disposed on said shank member adapted to be pivotally securedto said transom for rotation about an axis extending transversely ofsaid sleeve member.

6. The combination of claim 5 including means interconnected betweensaid sleeve member and said shank member yieldin'gly urging said shankmember toward one position of rotation relative to said sleeve andagainst rotation of said shank member in both directions relative tosaid sleeve member from said one position.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said shank member includes stopmeans engageable with said sleeve for limiting longitudinal slidingmovement of said shank member in a direction moving said blade away fromsaid sleeve member.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means interconnected betweensaid sleeve member and said shank member also yieldingly urges said stopmember toward a limit position defined by said sleeve member.

9. The combination of claim 3 wherein said sleeve member has a clampassembly pivotally secured thereto for rotation about an axis extendingtransversely of said sleeve member and adapted for clamping engagementwith said transom.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said sleeve member also slidablyreceives said shank member for longitudinal reciprocation of the latter.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said shank member includes stopmeans engageable with said sleeve for limiting longitudinal slidingmovement of said shank said shank member also yieldingly urging saidstop memmember in a direction moving said blade away from said hertoward a limit position defined by said sleeve member. sleeve member.

t g g fi f 11 f g References Cited in the file of this patent erconnee eeeen sat seeve mem er an sai s an 5 member yieldingly urging said shankmember toward one UNITED STATES PATENTS position of rotation relative tosaid sleeve and against 2,097,931 Martin Nov. 2, 1937 rotation of saidshank member in both directions rela- 2,303,100 Willems Nov. 24, 1942tive to said sleeve member from said one position, said 2,548,407Tabbert Apr. 10, 1951 means interconnected between said sleeve memberand 10

1. A SCULLING APPARATUS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SHANK MEMBER HAVING APANEL-LIKE BLADE ON ONE END PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SHANKMEMBER, THE OTHER END OF SAID SHANK MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED HANDLEPORTION GENERALLY PARALLELING SAID SHANK MEMBER AND LATERALLY OFFSETFROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SHANK MEMBER IN A DIRECTION EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY OF THE MEDIAL PLANE OF THE BLADE, SAID SHANK MEMBERINCLUDING MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID HANDLE PORTION AND SAID BLADE ADAPTINGSAID SHANK MEMBER TO BE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FROM THE TRANSOM OF A BOATFOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPSTANDING AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAIDSHANK MEMBER AND FOR OSCILLATION ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAIDSHANK MEMBER.